26.4.04
Today in Irish History
April 26
1916 - Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, writer, suffragist, pacifist and patriot is apprehended while trying to stop Easter Rising looting and is later executed by the British without a trial.
Searc's Web biography extract
Francis Skeffington was born in Baileborough, County Cavan and educated at University College, Dublin. His essay regarding women students, 'A Forgotten Aspect of the University Question' was published with James Joyce's essay 'The day of the Rabblement' in 1901.
Skeffington married fellow student Hanna Sheehy and took her surname as she did his. They were both prominent in the student suffrage and pacifist movements and after graduation Skeffington became a journalist and co-edited The Nationalist with T.M. Kettle. In 1908 he published Michael Davitt: Revolutionary, Agitator and Labour Leader and in the same year he and Hannah, together with James and Margaret Cousins, founded The Irish Women's Franchise League.
In 1914 Skeffington wrote and produced a feminist comedy The Prodigal Daughter at Molesworth Hall, Dublin for the benefit of the Women's Franchise League. In May, 1915 he delivered a lecture attacking the introduction of conscription in Ireland and a week later he was arrested and charged under the Defence of the Realm Act. Skeffington demanded to be tried as a political prisoner but was tried without a jury and sentenced to six months hard labour with a £50 fine or a further six months in prison. Skeffington went on hunger-strike on June 7th, 1915 and was released a week later under the 'Cat and Mouse' Act which made him liable for re-arrest from June 30th, 1915. During Easter Week, 1916 Francis Sheehy Skeffington was detained and shot dead without charge or trial by Capt. Bowen-Colthurst of the North Staffordshire Regiment.
April 26
1916 - Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, writer, suffragist, pacifist and patriot is apprehended while trying to stop Easter Rising looting and is later executed by the British without a trial.
Searc's Web biography extract
Francis Skeffington was born in Baileborough, County Cavan and educated at University College, Dublin. His essay regarding women students, 'A Forgotten Aspect of the University Question' was published with James Joyce's essay 'The day of the Rabblement' in 1901.
Skeffington married fellow student Hanna Sheehy and took her surname as she did his. They were both prominent in the student suffrage and pacifist movements and after graduation Skeffington became a journalist and co-edited The Nationalist with T.M. Kettle. In 1908 he published Michael Davitt: Revolutionary, Agitator and Labour Leader and in the same year he and Hannah, together with James and Margaret Cousins, founded The Irish Women's Franchise League.
In 1914 Skeffington wrote and produced a feminist comedy The Prodigal Daughter at Molesworth Hall, Dublin for the benefit of the Women's Franchise League. In May, 1915 he delivered a lecture attacking the introduction of conscription in Ireland and a week later he was arrested and charged under the Defence of the Realm Act. Skeffington demanded to be tried as a political prisoner but was tried without a jury and sentenced to six months hard labour with a £50 fine or a further six months in prison. Skeffington went on hunger-strike on June 7th, 1915 and was released a week later under the 'Cat and Mouse' Act which made him liable for re-arrest from June 30th, 1915. During Easter Week, 1916 Francis Sheehy Skeffington was detained and shot dead without charge or trial by Capt. Bowen-Colthurst of the North Staffordshire Regiment.
